Birthday Boys

An Astronaut
Spidey
and a Pirate
What do they all have in common?
First up the astronaut on a Birthday card using Space Boy from Your Next Stamp.  It is based on the July SFYTT and also follows the challenge #47 from Your Next Stamp, which is a recipe - 1 image, 2 PP and 3 embellies.

Next a Birthday party with Spidey and a pirate :>)

These are pics from my sons' Birthday party, they just turned 4!  We really don't make a big deal over my sons being twins.  We try not to treat each the same, they rarely dress alike, they look nothing alike and have completely different personalities too!  That fits with they each wanted a different theme for their Birthday party.  I found the idea for the pirate ship cake on the Wilton website.  Their cake has mates to go along with the captain, so cute.  My time was limited since I had a second cake to make, so I went with 1 fondant pirate.  The Wilton cake also made the sails out of gum paste, but I went with fabric and my copics.  Once I decided to make the pirate ship, I knew I would need to make the Spiderman cake just as big, which resulted in a fondant covered rice crispy building. 
My sons were excited!
Smiles,
Julie
Details:
Stamp - (Space Boy) YNS, PP - Bo Bunny, CS - SU, Embossing Folder - (Circles) Cuttlebug, and Buttons PTI.

July Viva la Verve

I issued a crafting challenge to my sister a couple weeks ago.
She met the challenge.
So did I, barely, phew!!!
There were 4 great July Viva la Verve sketch challenges this month (every month is always good…oh how I wish there were more hours in the day so I could always find time to play!) :

#1:

#2:

#3:

#4

Yay!!! I really was not sure that I would finish in time. Crazy week, my computer does not like me uploading photos anymore. Such a temperamental laptop :>)

Smiles,

Julie

Details: (Good Friend, Dream Big) Verve, PP – (Green at Heart) Basic Grey, Ink – Momento and SU, CS – PTI and SU, Ribbon – PTI, rhinestones – Stash, buttons – PTI.

PTI Stamp-a-faire Challenge #10

The final PTI Stamp-a-faire Challenge was to create your own background with stamping and yes, I missed the deadline (my laptop is misbehaving).  I probably took the quick and easy route by using a "background stamp".  I decided to stick with the same style used on the first 2 Stamp-a-faire cards found here. 

 I was inspired by the simplicity and found myself creating more than one card.  How about 8!  The simplicity was also inspired by Lynnda's guest blogger challenge on Yvonne Yam's blog Do More With Less.

This gift set is for a friend who loves purple...so much so that she has a purple couch!  Her Birthday is this week, so the timing of these challenges was perfect!
Thanks for stopping by!!!
Smiles,
Julie
Details:  Image - (Botanical Silhouettes and Background Basics Tin Types) PTI.

PTI Stamp-a-faire Challenges

I saw the PTI Stamp-a-faire challenges just over an hour ago and could not resist playing along with a couple.  It has been a long non-paper crafting day, so I went the CAS route.  I now have a gift set started!
Challenge #8 - Create a card with a front cover shorter than the inside...

Challenge #4 Ripe Avocado, Simply Chartreuse, Hawaiian Shores & Enchanted Evening. 

Smiles,
Julie
Images - Botanical Silhouettes (PTI)

Amber Ink Birthday Party

Amber Ink is turning ONE!!!

Now how do we celebrate?  With a party of course!!!  We are hopping and you will want to join in, because not only are there fabulous creations to oooohhhh and aahhhh over at each stop, there are also prizes to be won for leaving comments along the way.
 
You should be arriving here from Jacki Randolph's blog.  If not, head on over to Taylor Usry's blog to get the party started!

I can not resist playing with new goodies, so I decided to create something using Amber Ink's newly released It's a Train Set.  And since you can not go to a party without a present, I created a gift for another little someone turning ONE!

 A paper pieced train chugging along over embossed paper hills on glossy paper button wheels.  Making this project reminded me of why I love working with digis - you can change them to any size you want!  I purchased a 10" x 20" frame with a two opening mat for 5 x 7" pictures.  Then cut away the mat separating the 2 openings to create one long opening. 

So what are you still doing here???  Leave a comment and then get on the train and get chugging along to the next stop, the fantabulous Laurel Seabrook.  Remember, there are prizes to be won!!!  You have until tomorrow night, Thursday July 21st, to leave comments and the winners will be announced on the Amber Ink blog Friday.  You can also visit the Amber Ink blog to learn details about all the festivities.
Below is the list of every stop along the hop in case you wander off track.  You are currently at #18...yes, it reads Foxy Needles, long story short, that is my alter ego :>)
Smiles,
Agent Foxy Needles




Details:  Image - (It's a Train Set) Amber Ink, PP - (Max and Whiskers, Oliver) Basic Grey, CS - Bazzill, Die - (Button Cutups) The Cat's Pajamas, DMC Embroidery Floss, (Glossy Accents) Ranger, Copics and Embossing Folders (Swiss Dots & Circles) Cuttlebug and (Plaid) Sizzix, plus dimensionals, and sewing.

Are You Ready to PAR-TAY???

Amber Ink is turning ONE and the party has already started!!!  

It's time to get your party hat on, but you need to make one first :>)
Link up your party hat to this post HERE on the Amber INKlings blog by noon EST Tuesday.  One random winner will receive a $24.00 Gift Certificate to the Amber Ink store. Go check out the details HERE and then get creative!
Let's PAR-TAY!!!
Smiles,
Julie

Basket of Roses

April
May
June
July
Do you sometimes get an idea in your head and it takes forever to finally make the project your were thinking of???  I saw this card that Leigh Ann made with a lattice and immediately wanted to make a basket out of the "Perfect Parcel" template from Perfect Presentation.
Back in April the idea was to make little gifties for Easter.  Well, Easter came and went...so did Mother's Day.  Now it is July and it took a couple challenges to inspire me to finish what I started.  With a little inspiration from Shabby Tea Room's Week #70 challenge - Flower Power and the challenge to create a gift from Angi, a guest designer on Yvonne Yam's blog "Do More with Less" I am finally done!

 The box has a great basket like shape.  I cut strips, inked the edges and then latticed away (just like Leigh Ann did!).

It is topped by some rolled flowers that I created using an svg found here.  These are my first rolled flowers and although I am usually not one for bulky embellies these were easy to create and work on top of a box.  The leaves were cut out freehand and inked up just a bit.
Smiles,
Julie
Details:  CS - PTI, Ink - PTI and Tim Holtz, Template - (Perfect Parcel) Perfect Presentation.

Floral Anniversary

Did you check out my Flashback Friday post?  Today's card was inspired by the flip flop card that I flashed back to here.  Oh gees, Amy has me flashing back for inspiration once again :>)  I remembered how much I liked creating a b&w vine like print, so I decided to try it again and add in some color.

The sentiments in Dream Big by Verve are some of my favorites.  I stamped the flower in purple then added leaves in 2 different sizes.  Then I stamped in black the sentiments and flower outline and embossed all.  Those strips of black are actually ribbon.
I am also linking this one up to the MFW Stamp it! Cards Week Challenge! 
Smiles,
Julie
Details:  Stamps - (Dream Big and Good Friend) Verve, Ink - Momento and Colorbox, Ribbon - All that Scraps, Embossing powder and CS - (White) PTI.

Cookies!

Yesterday, I received in the mail a box full of coffee.  I actually don't drink coffee, but I sure did love the contents of this box!

Photo taken from the blog Fresh Cut Flours www.freshcutflours.blogspot.com

I won a cookie giveaway on Terri's blog Fresh Cut Flours!!!
YUMMO!  I received 4 of the cookies above.  I have 3 children, so each received one of the coffee cups and then my husband and I shared a circle. I was really hoping that my kids would not like the cookies so that I would get to have more :>)  Unfortunately for me, they loved the cookies.  I affectionately call one of my sons a cookie monster and the entire time he was eating the cookie he was repeating mmmm, mmm, mmm.
The cookies have a light almond and buttery flavor with a great texture that is just soft enough.  I wish I had taken a picture of my kiddos with the cookies, but they were gone too fast!!! As was my 1/2 - LOL!
I started following Terri because she makes beautiful (and now I know delicious) cookies and she also has a knack for refinishing furniture and re-purposing everyday household items to give them a new life.  Be sure to check out her blog!!!  Plus, she has another cookie giveaway going on thru Friday, July 15th.
Smiles,
Julie

Lawn Critters

Today my daughter and I were playing with the lawn.  Lawn Fawn stamps that is :>)
Yesterday, I saw on FB that there is a Lawn Fawn challenge on Latrice's blog Any Occasion.  Well, it was a rainy afternoon and what better way to spend it then stamping?
I told my daughter about the contest and she wanted to make a card too.  We each did some masking with the Critters in the 'Burbs set.
Here is mine...

and here is my 7 year old DD's!

She masked the tree to stamp it in both green and brown.  Then she decided to color it all in.  She really wanted to use my white ink, so she even stamped some clouds by turning the tree upside down.  It is just a little bit hard to see white on white though. Oh what fun :>) 
My card is also for the Stamp It! Cards Week Challenge on MFW...stamping is definitely the predominant element!
Have a great weekend!
Smiles,
Julie
Details:  Stamps - (Critters in the 'burbs) Lawn Fawn, Ink SU and Momento, Twine (Cappuccino) The Twinery, Markers, Button PTI and CS - (White) PTI.

Flashback Friday 13.0

Flashback Friday 13.0
Guess who the guest designer is for this go around???  ME!  I was so excited to win the last Flashback Friday challenge so that I could pick the theme for this challenge. 
Are you ready???  The challenge is to re-post your first non-traditional shaped card! That means no rectangles or squares, but circles and everything else are welcome :>)
Non-traditional shaped cards are not the norm for me, but I thought it would be fun to see everyone's first creations.  Plus, I admit, I got to pick the theme so I picked something that fit a "first" project that I would not be too embarrassed to re-post.  So enough chit chat, here is my first non-traditional shaped card from back in June 2009...
 

For all the details click here to go back in time and see the original post.
Now, I want to see what you have made.  Repost your first non-traditional shaped card and link it up to Flashback Friday 13.0.  Super duper simple!  You don't even have to make something new and you could win a prize.  Yes, what is a challenge without a prize???!!! 
The sponsors for this challenge are:

EAD Designs

which co-brands with

isabell's umbrella

Now what could you win???  Check out the adorable cards found here and here!  Plus have you been amazed by all the stickers out there in blog land?  You could win these and these!

Remember, all you need to do is re-post your first non-traditional shaped card.  Maybe it is from 2 years ago, or maybe it is just last month.  Check out all the challenge details and link up your re-post to the Flashback Friday blog.  You have until July 29th to play along!

Smiles,
Julie

It's a Kite Flying Kind of Day

Scene cards are so much fun and one of my favorites to create.  I have been admiring so many from everyone, that I could not help but make one. 

That's Kite Flying Fhiona from Your Next Stamp, so sweet and kite flying is definitely fun!  My card is based on sketch #162 from Sketch Saturday.  All those buttons mean this card is also for the Your Next Stamp challenge blog "Button Up" challenge.
Be sure to stop back tomorrow.  There is a new Flashback Friday challenge and I am just a little excited about it!
Smiles,
Julie
Details:  Stamps - (Kite Flying Fhiona) YNS, (Up Up and Away - clouds) Verve, (Handwritten Notes) PTI, Ink - (Tuxedo Black) Momento, CS (Kraft) PTI, PP (Togetherness) Cosmo Cricket, Embroidery Floss DMC, Buttons PTI and Heart Die Cut Cuttlebug.

Christmas in July

Merry
Merry
Merry
It is time to start thinking about Christmas.  Actually, I know there are quite a few of you who started preparing for Christmas back in January.

Some of you may recognize the sketch this card is based on...these cuties are a PC reject.  That's okay, I still love the little trio  :>)  This was only the second card I have tried submitting.  I decided to give it a go because I have seen so many creations by all my blogging buddies on the pages (or cover!) of the magazine.  I always get so excited for everyone.  You all inspire me!!!
Smiles,
Julie
Details:  Image - Kite Flying Fhiona (YNS), Harold's Alphabet (Lawn Fawn) and Verve, Pom Pom Trim, PP - Modern Homemaker (October Afternoon), CS - White (PTI), Ink - Momento and Vivid.

From Sea to Shining Sea

CAS
It is my favorite lately and there is a relatively new challenge blog called CAS-ual Fridays.  Their latest challenge is "krafts-men", to create a CAS masculine project using kraft.  That is just too cute a title for a challenge, how could I resist?

Another new stamp!  I was at my LSS with one of my sons and Smooth Sailing Flopsey was his favorite.  I of course was gravitating toward the Pure Innocence, but how could I not get the one that he liked?  I paper pieced away and then added a fun SVG wave that I found here.
Happy Fourth of July to everyone in the States.  There may not be stars on todays card, but there is red, white and blue!
Smiles,
Julie
Details:  Stamp - Smooth Sailing Flopsey (MFT), PP - Beach Bum (Fancy Pants), Ink - Tuxedo Black (Momento), CS - White and Kraft (PTI) and copics.

Where are the Bunnies?

Have you seen 'em???
A bunny in a garden.
A bunny in a balloon.
A bunny in a plane.
Not to mention bunnies catching butterflies and riding a bike.
Oh my, I have been smiling over the latest release from The Cat's Pajamas.  Last week I waited each day for a peek at the new release and I went shopping on Monday night.  My order arrived yesterday and I had to ink up one of the new stamps right away.

Besides the stamp, the PP is also new.  It is a good thing I did not decide to try to go on a craft spending hiatus this summer.  I actually considered it, for about 10 minutes, but there is just too much good stuff out there!
I pulled in the sketch from the Paper Player's challenge #53 for this card and paper pieced away.  This card is also for challenge #11 from Desert Island Crafts - the 3 items used off the itinerary are copics, glossy accents and pop ups.

Smiles,
Julie
Details:  Stamps - Take Off (TCP), Ink - Night of Navy (SU), Versamark and Tuxedo Black (Momento), CS - PTI and SU, PP - Beach Bum (Fancy Pants), Glossy Accents and copics.

All the Colors in a Rainbow

Rainbows are magical.
From the dreary comes something beautiful.
The latest Embellish Magazine challenge is all about rainbows.  Once I realized that I do not own a rainbow stamp I decided to keep it CAS and create my own rainbow of sorts.

I took one of the dot strip stamps from Practicing Creativity's "For the Love of Dots" and curved it on the stamp block to create the rainbow wave.  Lots of color, a bit of bling and still CAS.
Smiles,
Julie
Details:  Stamps - For the Love of Dots (Practicing Creativity) and Signature Greetings (PTI), CS - White (PTI), Ink - SU and Momento, and Rhinestones (Stash).